Refrigerator shelf



y 30, 1951 A. J. SWANECK, JR 2,986,440

REFRIGERATOR SHELF Filed Oct. 15, 1959 INVENTOR ANT HONYJ.SWANECK JR {M4 I BUY 19 oi pzzwfi f ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

United States Patent 2,986,440 REFRIGERATOR SHELF Anthony J. Swaneck, Jr., Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 846,194 Claims. (Cl. 312308) This invention relates to shelf structures removably carried on slidable supporting means in cabinets, especially domestic refrigerator cabinets. More particularly, the invention relates to shelf supporting structures of the type set forth that are vertically adjustable to alter the spacing of the shelves, whereby objects of different heights may be accommodated between them.

The present invention is an improvement upon the subject matter of the copending application of Pearl C. Davis, Serial No. 811,085, filed May 5', 1959 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The shelf support of the present invention is adaptable to support a shelf either in a first, or upper, position, similar to that shown in the mentioned Davis application, or in a second, or lower, position vertically spaced from the first position and at a substantially lower level.

According to the present invention, the shelf is removably supported Within a cabinet on structure which includes a rear support member and a laterally spaced pair of front support members. The rear member has means for removably supporting the rear of the shelf thereon at either an upper or lower location. Preferably, the rear support member prevents the shelf from being moved horizontally. The front support members, on the other hand, are each provided with a forwardly opening slot which prevents'the shelf from being moved vertically; and each front support member is movable from a first position in which it extends upwardly for supporting the shelf at an upper level, to a second position in which it projects downwardly for supporting the shelf at a lower level. At the lower level the slot in each front support member still opens forwardly.

The various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a cabinet in which shelf supporting means embodying the invention is shown supporting the shelf at an upper level;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but only a fragment thereof, and showing the shelf supported at a lower level;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line IV- lV of Fig. 3 and showing the rear support member in front elevation.

The domestic refrigerator cabinet illustrated fragmentarily in the drawing includes insulated side walls and an insulated rear wall 12, all of which extend vertically and partially enclose a refrigerated storage chamber or compartment 14. The cabinet is open at its front to provide access to the compartment 14, and this access opening is normally closed by an insulated door (not shown). Disposed within the compartment 14 are a shelf 16 and shelf supports 18 and 20 of this invention.

The shelf 16 is of open-work construction and includes front and rear rod-like elements 22 and 24, respectively, which extend transversely and support a multiplicity of spaced, elongated bars 26. The latter extend real-wardly, spanning the elements 22 and 24 to define a horizontal storage deck.

I The shelf supports 18 and 20 are of similar construction;

Y hence, only the shelf support 18 will be described in detail, with like reference numerals being applicable to their I rail 30 is connected to a bracket 34 which, in turn, is secured to the side wall 10 near the front of the storage compartment 14.

The stationary guide rail 30 suspends the rear end of a cylindrical slide rod 36, by a slidable hanger 37, for sliding movement from front to back and back to front. For this purpose the hanger 37 has an upper hole 39 in which the guide rail 30 is loosely received and a lower hole 40 in which the slide rod 36 is secured against relative vertical and horizontal movement, by means to be described hereinafter. The bracket 34 supports the other or front end portion of the slide rod 36 for similar sliding movement. A stop 42 is secured to the slide rod 36 intermediate its ends and limits the extent to which the slide rod may be moved forwardly by engaging the bracket 34.

The slide rod 36 is further provided with a front shelf support member 43 at or adjacent its front end. For the purpose of being a rear shelf support member, the hanger 37 includes a portion 46 which projects upwardly, above the rail 30, and in which is formed an upwardly opening slot 47 adapted to receive a portion of the rear shelf element 24. The hanger 37 also has a portion 48 which pro jects downwardly, below the slide rod 36, and in which is formed a slot 49. The slot 49 opens upwardly and forwardly, for the same purpose as the slot 47 except to support the rear of the shelf 16 at a lower level.

The front shelf support member 43 is rigidly connected to the front of the slide rod 36, as by a pin or rivet. The front shelf support member 43 projects outwardly of the slide 36 and it is provided with a forwardly opening slot 53. The horizontal distance between the front slot 53 and the rear slots 47 and 49 is substantially equal to the space between the transversely extending shelf elements 22 and p 24, and all slots are oriented so that portions of the shelf elements are receivable in them for easy removal and replacement of the shelf 16.

The shelf 16 is securely and stably supported on its supports 18 and 20. It is also freely slidable with its supports back and forth in the cabinet. Further, the shelf 16 is easily removable, whether or not articles are on the storage deck, by lifting the shelf 16 out of the rear slots and then moving it forwardly, free of the slots in the front support members 43, until the shelf is out of the cabinet. This procedure is simply reversed for replacing the shelf and is applicable whether the shelf is removed from its upper position shown in Fig. l or its lower position shown in Fig. 2.

The present invention is principally concerned with providing a shelf support which is adapted to support the shelf 16 in either of two horizontal positions. That is, an arrangement which is capable of supporting the shelf 16 at either an upper or a lower level, so that the vertical space between shelves may be changed to suit the height of articles stored between them. To this end, the front shelf support members 43 are angularly movable about the axis of the slide rod 36 from a first or upper position in which they project upwardly as in Fig. l to a second or lower position in which they project downwardly as in Fig. 2. In both the upper and lower positions of member 43 the slot 53 opens forwardly.

Referring especially to Fig. 3, the slide rod 36 extending through the lower hole 40 in the hanger 37 is rotatably journaled therein but locked against horizontal movement bya grip washer 55 on the end of the rod and a stop 56 welded to the rod 36 on the forward side of the hanger 37. This provision allows rotation of the slide rod 36 with the front shelf support member 43. Of course, it is obivously possible to modify this arrangement, within :the scope of the invention, to permit the member 43 to rotate relative the rod 36. However, asemi-annular recess or track:58 (see Fig. 4) in the hanger surfaces surroundingthe lower hole 40 is formed in such a manner thatthe stop 56 will ride therein for only 180 degrees of angular movement of the slide rod 36 about its own axis between upwardly projecting and downwardly projecting vertical positions of the front support member 43. The track 58 in each hanger 37 simplifies the correct positioningofthe members 43 for receiving the front transverse element 22' of the shelf 16.

To move the shelf 16 from the upper level position of Fig. 1 towthe lower levelposition of Fig. 2, the shelf 16 is first removed from the slots 47 and 53, next placed aside while the rods 36 are rotated by turning the front support members 43 inwardly to a downwardly projecting position, and then replaced so as to rest in the slots 53 and the slots 49. Of course, the slots 49 are unoccupied while the shelf is in the upper position, just as the slots 47 are unoccupied when the shelf is in the lower position.

The angular'movability of the front support members 43 is advantageous when the shelf 16 is heavily loaded and the front transverse shelf element 22 sags in the middleand turns up at the ends. Where this situation occurs in older arrangements the slide rods 36 are pulled toward each other, causing them to bind in their supports so that it becomes difiicult to slide the shelf in and out. But with the present arrangement the front support members 43 turn toward each other to accommodate a sagging front element 22 and no binding takes place. It is also apparent that the supports 18 and can be made mostly of common parts, if desired, with savings in manufacturing and handling costs resulting.

Unlike older arrangements which coped with the problemwsolved by this invention, it is unnecessary to remove stored articles and invert the shelf in moving it to a lower level. Rather, the present arrangement combines effectiveness and dependability with simplicity and convenience.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet, structure supported within said cabinet for horizontal movement, and a shelf removably supported on said structure; said structure including a plurality of front support members for said shelf projecting upwardly in a first position and movable to a downwardly projecting second position, said from support memberseach being provided with slot means, and a rear support member provided with upper and lower means for alternatively supporting the rear of said shelf at respective uppet and lower positions, said shelf being supportable at an upper level by saidtfront support members in the first position thereof and by saidtupper supporting means of said rear support member, said shelf being supportable at a -lowerlevel by 'said frontsupport'members in the second position thereof and by said lower supporting means of said'rear support member.

2. In a cabinet, a pair of guide rails extending front to rear within the cabinet, a slide structure carried by said guide rails for horizontal movement with respect to said cabinet, and a shelf removably supported on said slide alternativelyzsupporting the rear of said-'shelf 'at respective upper:and:llower positions,- said shelf :being supportableiat an upper level by said front support members in the first position thereof and by said upper supporting means of said rear support member, said shelf being supportable at a lower level by said front support members in the second position thereof and by said:l ower supporting means of said rear support rnember.

3. In a cabinet having vertically extendingzsidei and rear walls, a pair of stationary guide rails extendingalong respective side walls from front to rear within the'cabinet, a slide structure carried by said guide rails for movement therealong, and a shelf removably supported on said slide structure; said slide structure including a laterally spaced pair of front shelf support members projecting upwardly in a first position and movable to a downwardly project ing second position, said front pair of support members each being provided with a forwardly openingislot, and a rear support member provided with upper andv lower means for alternatively supporting the rear of said shelf at respective upper and lower positions, said shelf being supportable at an upper level by said front support members in the first position thereof and by said upper supporting means of said rear support member, said shelf being supportable at a lower level by said front support members in the second position thereof and by said lower supporting means of said rear support member.

4. in a cabinet having upright side and rear walls, a pair of guide rails extending horizontally along respective side walls within the cabinet, a slide structure carried by said guide rails for slidable movement therealong, and a shelf removably supported on said slide structure; said slide structure including a plurality of front support members for said shalf which project'upwardly in a first position and are angularly movable to a second position in which they project downwardly, said front support members each being provided with a forwardly opening slot, and a plurality of rear support members for said shelf each having portions which project upwardly and downwardly relative said guide rails, said upwardly projecting portions of said rear support members each being provided with an upwardly opening slot cooperating with said front support members in their first positions to support said shelf horizontally in said slots at an upper level, said downwardly projecting portions of said rear support members each being provided with a slot cooperating with said front support members in their second positions to stlipport said shelf horizontally in said slots at a lower leve 5. In a refrigerator cabinet having vertically extending side and rear walls, a pair of stationary guide rails extending horizontally along respective side walls'within the cabinet, a slide structure carried by said guide'rails for slidable movement therealong, and a shelf removably supported on said slide structure; said slide structure including a laterally spaced pair of shelf-supporting front members which project upwardly in a first position and are swingable to a second position in which they project downwardly, said front members each being provided with a forwardly opening slot, and a laterally spaced pair of shelf-supporting rear members having portions respectively projecting upwardly and downwardly relative said guide rails, said upwardly projecting portions of said rear members each being provided with an upwardly opening slot cooperating with said front support members in their first positions to support said shelf horizontally in said slots at an upper level, said downwardly projecting portions of said rear support members each being provided with slot means cooperating with said front support members in their second positions to receive'and retain said shelf horizontally in said slots at said lower level.

2,284,339 Nauert May- 26, 1942 Hallock Mar. 30,1943: 

